Composition for protecting piles



NITED STATES JAMES ROWE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

COMPOSITION FOR PROTECTING PILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,832, dated November18, 1890.

Application filed september 19, 1890. Serial No. 365,551. (Nospecimens.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES ROWE, a citizen of the United States, residingin the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, haveinvented an Improvement in Pile=Protecting Compositions; and I herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de scription of thesame.

My invention relates to that class of pileprotectors which consists ofsuitable compositions of matter applied to the exterior of the pile andforming a covering therefor which is intended to resist not only theaction of the water, but especially the ravages of marine insects,particularly the teredo.

My invention consists in an inner covering and an outer coating. Theinner covering consists of the following ingredients, combined insubstantially the proportions stated, to wit: tar, five gallons;asphalt, one hundred and fiftypounds; paraffine, fifty pounds; cement,twenty five pounds; phosphorus, one pound; hair, five pounds. The mannerof mixing these is as follows: The tar is put in a kettle and raised tothe boiling-point. The asphalt is then put into the kettle and wellstirred in with the tar, the boiling being continued until the mass isthoroughly reduced to a liquid form say for about an hour. The parafiineis next added, and the mass is stirred while boiling over a slow firefor, say, three hours, or thereabout. The proportion of parafiine neednot be absolutely that above given. So much is put in as will give theproper hardness to the mass when set. The cement is then added tothicken the mass to suit. The fire is then drawn, and the hair isimmediately put in and stirred well. Horse-hair is preferable, thoughcow-hair may be used. Then the phosphorus is added and well stirred. Thepile is now placed over the kettle, being mounted upon suitable wheeledframes or trucks, and the material in the kettle is mopped up around thepile until it covers it to proper thickness say from one-quarter toone-half inch, or thereabout. Then the pile is rolled over to one sideon skids and left to dry, say, for three days. The covering in this timebecomes perfectly hard and sticks firmly and closely to the wood. Theouter coating consists of fire-clay, sand, and cement mixed in suchproportions as to make the mass of the consistency of molasses,approximately. This is then applied to the covering of the pile with abrush or broom, and the pile is left for about a week, so that thecoating will set.

In this protector the hair plays an impor tant part, its function beingnot only to serve as a bond, but also to act as a barrier or resistantto the worm. Its keenness or fineness of edge causes it to act as acutter, and it splits the boring organ of the worm, deterring it fromfurther advancing. The phosphorus serves as a poison and kills the worm.This covering is very hard of itself and will resist the suns rays. Theparafiine gives it this quality, so much being put in as will give themass the essential consistency and yet not allow it to soften under anyheat to which the pile while in use may be exposed. The cement serves tofurther harden the mass. The tar is the liquefying or melting element,and linseed-oil may be substituted for it, though tar is preferable,being cheaper. The asphalt forms the body of the mass. The outer coating is essential to perfect durability. It hardens the whole 3 but itschief function is to protect the inner covering, holding it to place andshielding it from the suns rays, thereby not only protecting the innermass as a whole,

but fully shielding the phosphorus.

I am aware that in pile-protectors many of the foregoing ingredientssuch as tar, asphalt, cement, and paraffine have been used separately orin combination with other substances; but I am not aware that they havebeen combined as I have herein set forth, nor with phosphorus and hair.Therefore,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A pile-protecting composition consisting of tar, asphalt, paraffine,cement, phosphorus, and hair, substantially as herein described.

2. A pile-protecting composition consisting of an inner covering of acomposition of tar, asphalt, paraffine, cement, phosphorus, and

hair, and an outer coating of a plastic material or composition whichwill harden or set after being applied, substantially as herein Inwitness whereof I have hereunto set my described. hand;

3. A pile-protecting composition consisting of an inner covering of acomposition of tar, JAMES ROWE. 5 asphalt, parafiine, cement,phosphorus, and

hair, and an outer coating of a composition of \Vitnesses: fire-clay,sand, and cement, substantially as S. H. NOURSE, herein described. H. 0.LEE.

